Gary Stewart of Rhino Records, RIP

Just got the news. Andrew Sandoval posted a moving tribute to him and how he changed his life - had no idea Sandoval got his start there as a teenager. " I met him when I was 15 at the Rhino Record store and he literally changed my life. At my 18th birthday party in January 1990 I told him the thing I wanted most was a job at the Rhino Record label. A day or so later, he called me in the late afternoon and told me to report the next morning."

 

A true music fan. Very sad.

 

Awful news. He was such a good man.

 

RIP.

 

This is incredibly sad.

Bet I could listen to various (and, invariably fantastic) reissues he produced nonstop for the next month without repeating a title. And come to think of it, that might be the best way to memorialize him.

 

Gary Stewart was the absolute best. RIP

 

Stewart, Richard Foos and Harold Bronson completely redefined what reissues and greatest-hits LPs could be. I owe them all thanks.

 

Damn. All those best of comps that Rhino put out in the 80's were pretty much one stop shopping if you wanted to get started with a new (old) band you were curious about. The Easybeats, Beau Brummels, Blue Cheer, Merry Go Round, Music Machine....there must be hundreds of those, all before the age of multi disc dives into a single artist. Like Steve said, we all owe him in one way or another.
RIP, sir.

 

Not to mention the photos supplied by Michael Ochs.

 

RIP.

I was a big buyer of what Rhino was doing. Had LPs with an actual Rocky Rhino label.

 

Rhino was my first "favorite label" via the Elvis Costello stuff. They're still one of the biggest names out there, and the best when it comes to doing stuff justice. One of the few times you could have both quality AND quantity. I've got a ton of Rhino sets and I cherish 'em all. Sad news.

 

I didn’t know Gary but I certainly have my share of Rhino releases so I’m sorry to hear this .
RIP

 

I’ve known Gary for over forty years. He was really a lovely guy. As everyone online has noted, a true mensch. As for music, Elvis Costello (who he worked with extensively) says “he knew his onions.” He also was a film buff, and had great taste in pop culture, aside from being a beloved community activist. This really hurts.

 

Wow. RIP Gary.

 

Pearl Jam might be this year's Record Store Day "Ambassadors" but I will dedicate it to Gary Stewart. I owe a big chunk of my musical heart to RHINO.

 

Back in the day Rhino was a benchmark for me - if I saw the logo in the bins, I would always pause to look at it (and likely end up purchasing it), because in listening (and reading the great liner notes) I came to understand that the reissue was done for a purpose beyond just trying to make a buck.

Rest easy Gary!

 

Agreed........his name is all over my collection. RIP Mr. Stewart.

 

The man made the music world a lot better place. RIP, sir.

 

I remember the time in the late 90s when he called me up out of the blue just to discuss music and CDs. No one would do that today.

R.I.P., Gary. Maybe you can start that new record label in the next dimension.

 

Gary Stewart was Rhino Records and always will be. RIP.

 

Would anyone be able to post Andrew’s message for those of us without Facebook, thanks!

 

Here is Andrew's Facebook message about Gary:

I am deeply saddened to mark the untimely passing of my friend and mentor, Gary Stewart. I met him when I was 15 at the Rhino Record store and he literally changed my life. At my 18th birthday party in January 1990 I told him the thing I wanted most was a job at the Rhino Record label. A day or so later, he called me in the late afternoon and told me to report the next morning.

We collaborated on a lengthy list of projects after that, including the Elvis Costello and Love catalogs as well as, of course, The Monkees. We had a rocky relationship at times, but I think age was always a factor in this. Still, I may never have escaped my troubled home, been able to live on my own and be a self-supporting teenager if it wasn't for Gary's belief and innate good.

He really loved this song by The Monkees: "Dream World" - and included it on the Monkee Flips LP he compiled way before my time. I never dug it, until I got to a place where it would remind me of him. He was obsessive and generous and many other wonderful things people will tell you about elsewhere. But to me, he was real. The first time I had to leave Rhino, I wrote him a note about the difference between the music business and the music friendship. I gave him a copy of the Beethoven Soul album. I really loved the guy and he had to know it.

Your record collections would not be the same without him and many people in Los Angeles wouldn't have had a dollar in their pocket or a roof over their heads if it wasn't for him. Gary Stewart, goodbye from one of your oldest music friends. The business meant less than being your friend always. - andrew

 

Very sorry to hear this. RIP.

 

trailblazer, what a body of work. RIP